EPRA Department Resources

Student Conference Travel Funds, 2024-2025

To assist graduate students in their efforts to establish themselves and acquire valuable experiences in their respective fields, the College of Education strives to support graduate student travel and related expenses for presentations at conferences, professional meetings, and exhibitions.

Enrolled, matriculated graduate students (including those on Program Fee/Continuous Enrollment) are eligible for conference funding. Applicants must be accepted or invited to present their work at a conference, professional meeting, or exhibition and must provide verification. These funds are not designed to cover research related expenses.

The review and selection process are managed by the individual departments within the College of Education.  Funds are awarded to cover travel and conference expenses taking place during the current academic year. Students who anticipate conference travel or expenses in summer may apply for reimbursement in the following academic year during the fall application period. Funds may not be carried over from one academic year to the next.

Additional information about conference travel grants and the application process can be found on the  Conference Travel Grant Program web page. 

Student Professional Development Funds - Application Guidelines and Selection Criteria, 2024-2025

The Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration (EPRA) is allocating funds that may be awarded to graduate students to support professional development activities other than conference travel and participation. Examples of eligible professional development activities include fees for online trainings, workshops offered by professional societies, or programs offered on campus.

Grants awarded for professional development activities may not be used for salary, research supplies, general attendance at disciplinary meetings, travel to study sites, visits to collaborators, or other costs incurred in the normal course of research.

Eligibility:

Students currently enrolled as a Masters or Doctoral student in the Department of EPRA are eligible to apply.

Grant Amounts:

Grants for professional development activities will be awarded for up to $500 per award, with the normative award of approximately $300.

Grant Application Deadlines:

Applications will be received on a rolling basis. Award notifications will be sent within 2 weeks after receipt of the grant application. All applications must be submitted through the following online form: EPRA Student Professional Development Grant Application Form

Preference for awards of professional development grants:

1. Doctoral students
2. Students further along in their academic career
3. Students making satisfactory academic progress
4. Impact of activity on advancing student’s career

Only one professional development grant will be awarded per student, per year.

Application Requirements:

1. Application form specifying a description of established activity and link, if available, and the anticipated budget for participation.
2. Explanation of how this activity will help you advance your career; be specific and provide appropriate context.

Some expenses may be processed in advance of the professional activity; all other expenses must be submitted with receipts within 30 days after the conclusion of the activity. 

Student Programming Funds - Application Guidelines and Selection Criteria, 2024-2025

The Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration (EPRA) is allocating funds to support graduate student programming and events. Examples of eligible activities include honorariums for guest lectures, refreshments for practice presentation sessions, alumni career workshops, etc.  

Eligibility: 

Students currently enrolled as master's or doctoral students in the Department of EPRA are eligible to apply.

Funding Amounts: 

Funding will be awarded for up to $500 per activity, but applications for smaller amounts or collaborative applications for larger amounts will be considered as well.

Application Process & Deadlines: 

All applications must be submitted through the following form: EPRA Student Programming Funds Application

Applications will be received on a rolling basis. Award notifications will be sent within 2 weeks after receipt of the funding application.
 

Preference for Awards:

Priority will be given to activities that support cross-concentration/program student participation and benefit a significant number of students in the department.

Application Requirements:

1. Application form specifying a description and the anticipated budget of the activity.
2. Explanation of how this activity will support students in the department.
3. Estimated number and constituents who may participate.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Funds - Application Guidelines and Selection Criteria, 2024-2025

The Department of Educational Policy, Research and Administration (EPRA) is allocating funds that may be awarded to faculty and graduate students to support activities and programming that promote social justice and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the department. Examples of eligible activities include honoraria for guest speakers or workshop facilitators, refreshments/meals for roundtable discussions, participation in workshops, etc.

Eligibility:

Faculty and students currently enrolled as a Masters or Doctoral student in the Department of EPRA are eligible to apply.

Award Amounts:

Funding for DEI proposals will be awarded for up to $1000 per proposal.  Additional funding may be awarded for collaborative activities proposed by more than one individual.

Grant Application Process and Deadlines:

All funding requests must be submitted using the application form:  EPRA DEI Funding Application

Applications will be received on a rolling basis. Award notifications will be sent within 2 weeks after receipt of the grant application.

Preference for awards for DEI Grants:

Preference will be given to applications that align with the department’s strategic focus on centering racial justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion work (EPRA Strategic Focus Area 5). 

Priority will be given to proposals with the following criteria:

• Promote social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion work in EPRA
• Encourage cross-concentration and program participation
• Include all constituents in the department (faculty, students, staff)
• Show promise for long-term impact on DEI initiatives in the department

Application Requirements:

1. Application form specifying a description and the anticipated budget of the activity.
2. Explanation of how this activity will help to advance the DEI initiatives in the department.
3. Estimated number and constituents who may participate.

EPRA Summer Research & Writing Fellowships – Summer 2025

Purpose – To provide doctoral students in EPRA with $4000 of financial support in the summer that will allow them to make significant progress toward completion of their dissertation research and/or writing.

Eligibility – Applicants must: 1) be a doctoral student in EPRA; (2) be actively working on a comprehensive exam, dissertation proposal, or dissertation; (3) be making satisfactory progress towards completion of their degree work. 

Students who have received prior summer fellowship awards are eligible to apply, but priority is given to applicants who have not yet received an award. Students may apply for both the EPRA and College of Education summer fellowships concurrently.

Selection criteria – Applications will be evaluated according to: the importance of funding towards degree completion; significance of the topic; and the dissertation chair’s or advisor’s letter of endorsement. Priority will be given to applicants who: do not have concurrent funding sources in summer 2025; are further along in their academic career; and have not received an EPRA summer fellowship award in previous years.

Requirements – Students awarded the fellowship are required to submit a brief report and/or presentation of their summer research/writing work using the fellowship funds in September.

Application Process – Applicants must complete the online application form, including (1) a brief description of how the funds will be used, (2) additional funding sources, and (3) how this award would make a difference in dissertation completion and progress to degree.

In addition, the dissertation chair or advisor must submit a brief endorsement of the application using an online faculty endorsement form that comments on the student’s academic progress, the significance of the comprehensive exam or dissertation topic, and why they support the student’s application. Applicants are responsible for asking their dissertation chair or advisor to submit the faculty endorsement form in support of their application.

 **Applications will be accepted beginning March 1, 2025**

Application Due Date – March 22, 2025  

Award Notification Date – no later than April 15, 2025